Trigger Warning: Mention of Harassment
Gaurishukla is a 25-year-old student from Shillong. She pursued her bachelor’s in fashion design at the World University of Design and is currently studying at NIFT.
Gauri and her siblings were brought up in Lucknow by her parents. She has had two pets since she was a kid. She explains that she loves dogs and that her family has always adored having pets. Gauri has also had a strong passion for fashion and dancing since childhood and never stopped pursuing them even after growing up.
“My mom used to motivate me to attend the classes in school by rewarding me with dance classes post-school hours every day.”
When Gauri started her higher secondary school, things at home and school started bothering her. As she was in a convent, the restrictions on the campus seemed extreme to her. She elaborates that the faculty was harsh to Gauri for having male friends and also judged her based on the academic performances of her friends’ circle.
Gauri recollects that although her parents were good to her and her siblings, they had many family issues. Gauri never felt free to share her problems with them; she didn’t want to worry them and wasn’t sure they would understand her.
“I had problems everywhere but had no one to share my feelings with. Even in the tuition I went to, the teachers used to harass me verbally, but I didn’t tell my parents because they would stop sending me for tuition then.”
She felt like she had no support system. Piling up these unresolved traumas, Gauri moved to a new city for college. Being away from home for the first time and facing some issues with her acquaintances in college also started hurting Gauri more.
Along with academic demands, she struggled to cope with her daily life. As days went by, she kept trying to seek online counseling from different sources. Most of them weren’t what Gauri had expected, and she felt disappointed.
Around the same time, Gauri recalls attending a session by the YourDOST team at her college and learning about their partnership with her college. She decided this was her window to get better and started taking sessions with the available experts.
“The therapist I connected with was lovely, and I felt happy that I could finally find someone who gave me hope.”
Gauri adds that the counselor let her speak everything in her mind, and she felt relaxed after pouring her heart out. She elaborates that even though college was fun, she was sharing her room with a few of her seniors, and they didn’t get along with Gauri well, as their habits and interests differed a lot from hers.
Burdened with assignments, dealing with her past and managing the issues at home, Gauri couldn’t take on another problem on her plate. She even shared her roommate issues with her classmates, who tried to help her, but that didn’t stop the negative thoughts and feelings Gauri was going through.
“I gave my friends an outline of what I was going through, but I cannot share everything openly. Due to this, my mind formed a whole compilation of all the issues, and therapy was the only place I got an exit for all these emotions.”
As Gauri was reserved by nature, the therapist suggested she write down all her emotions and also gave her a few simple tasks to follow every day. They helped her take baby steps and open up to her family and friends little by little. She adds that in every session, the therapist asked her how she felt and every thought surrounding that feeling, which made her feel heard and validated.
Gauri recollects that her therapist always told her to treat herself positively and not burden herself too much. She took their advice and started reading books like The Secret and researching more about the power of affirmations and manifestations.
“After reading more about this concept, I realised I had been speaking and writing only about my negative feelings until then. That’s when my cycle of positivity began.”
After all the sessions, Gauri elucidates experiencing massive changes. She thanks her therapist for devising techniques and providing guidance for every issue she brought up. She rates herself 4.5 out of 5 and continues working on herself to be better.
We are happy with every progress Gaurishukla has made in her life and are proud of how far she has come.
Gaurishukla’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Believe and manifest that things will improve, and you will find the hope to hold on.”
2.“Train and rewire your mind to think positively during stressful situations.”
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